My father recently mentioned that he would like to be buried in a military cemetery. First any of us have heard that, so I’ve told my mother to start gathering the papers needed into a folder so it will all be five since I know it can be a chore.

Interesting about the size for urns. My friend L was a trained chef and had mentioned to me once in her last months that she liked the idea of being in one of her China teapots, but that wouldn’t be big enough I now realize. Maybe urn shopping can be something I do with her husband this weekend.

Msbelle, you know you can ping me for volumes too (she probably has something dear of size in her kitchen. Chefs do.)

I can’t speak to urns, but I’m very glad others can.

We got a little bit of a miracle with my mom, truly. At some point in the 20 years between her mom passing and her, they changed the requirements at the cemetery. It meant that there was a single open space in the old part of the cemetery between where her parents are buried and a big tree. So she is right next to them and near to other friends and family. It would have meant the world to her. (My dad only cared about being near to her, and had no issues with cremation, so as soon as we get back up to Canada, that’s where he will be too.)

I like the idea of JZ on a writing desk watching over her family in that big beautiful house that you both poured so much love into. It doesn’t relieve the rage or the sorrow, but it feels like her. It’s so raw right now that it’s hard to fathom really. But it seems right.

It’s so raw right now that it’s hard to fathom really. But it seems right.

This. Right here.

I’m going dark for four days. David, you and Jacqueline and Matilda and Emily and Emmett are in my thoughts every day. I wish you all a bit of peace among the sorrow.

Yeah it really raw and quite surreal.

In regard to calculating, a courtesy aunt (she and my mother were best friends in college, were in each other's weddings and remained friends) wanted to wallpaper a room. So she took measurements, did the math; it seemed like a lot of wallpaper, but she took her numbers down to the store. She told the guy how much wallpaper she needed and he said he'd never had that much of any single wallpaper pattern. Ever. So they went over the numbers and finally realized she'd calculated the volume of the room. They redid the math, got a reasonable number and all was well.

As kind of a reverse, I was once talking to some friends and they were trying to figure out how much the carpeting they wanted would be. We figure out the square footage of the room and it seemed to come out really expensive. After some tossing numbers around, we realized that carpeting is sold by the square yard - nine feet - which got it down to, again, something reasonable.

I'm glad the urn math worked out correctly - I was hustling down (so late, I know) to mention that the measurements are exterior & the jar, while quite a lovely blue, is way too small.

So much love and care and yes, worry, for everyone.

Jumping ahead to ask:

Plei: I would like to be made into bling and ink.

Is bone ash-made tattoo ink vegan if it's made from a human who expressly wanted that to happen with their remains?

And now Jacqueline. It’s not fair.

This is where I’ve been stuck. For weeks. It’s not fucking FAIR. I feel like a little kid stomping my feet in a tantrum, wailing about how it’s just not fair.

I too am really struggling with the not-fairness of it all.

As of yesterday, Jacqueline is unresponsive. She's not even opening her mouth for me to put a little sponge in her mouth for her to get some water.

Second day in a row that there was no liquid in her canister from the G-tube pump. Which means her body has no hydration and she's shutting down.

Death by kidney failure is generally considered to be very gentle and serene, with the patient even having feelings of euphoria. I hope so.

When my mom was at this stage it took about 3 days. So I think in the next day or two.

We are all ready for her to be released. We are in no way ready for her to be gone.